HK M29 (OICW) cost

[Snakestyle]

Romans,

The following was taken from Heckler & Kochs' website (http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/military/fwframeset.html):

"'An M16 costs under $1000. We have heard M29 (OICW) may cost $10,000. Why is this?'" M29 (OICW) is a single system consisting of a fire control and combinatorial weapon. The functions contained within the system include the add-ons now used on the M16 or M4 such as optics, thermal weapon system, and aim light. With these functional add-ons, the existing M16/M4/203 system cost exceeds $35,000 each."

Does a typical SOPMODed M4 actually cost over 30K?

Snakestyle

[Duke]

One reason is when most products are new on the market, they tend to be relatively expensive. For example, calculators when first produced ran as much as $120 back in the day. This is due to economic factors on production and demand. Over time newly developed items with a high demand will decrease in price due to increase supply and other reasons such as a lowering in production costs. The M16's relatively cheap price is determined by the loads of production facilities that the governement contracts out. So here we see literally its "cheaper by the dozen" principle. In time if this new rifle pans out it will also become relatively cheap.

[Royal]

Military standard optics (particularly TI & II) a very expensive - as Duke says cost goes down as production increases.

I remember a court martial in '96 where a SNCO had driven a warrior AFV through a house in Bosnia (with the armoured sight covers up) and trashed the Raven II sight. The estimated bill for the sight alone was £40,000.

A milan MIRA TI sight was even more when it came up on a board of officers...

[Smoothie104]

My guess is the price is driven up by the electronics, the fire control for the fuse setter and such. Plus they have to re-coup their Reasearch and Development Costs.

[MK133]

I would think it is the technology inside the thing, it must have a real good laser rangefinder to program the 20mm nades to airburst at the right time. SO your talking computer chips, good optics, a lot of time to assemble, and there are like 3 different companys making the parts. ;)

http://www.secretweapon.com/images/secret/oicw-gun.jpg

Can you imagine a belt fed version?

[96B]

Wonder how long it will take until all those components on the OICW are mineraturized to the point where it aint much bigger than an M4 or G36...

[Piccolo]

Well, it Isn't that much bigger. The 20mm makes it appear rather large, but the bottom 223 rifle is a cut down G36, with a 10 inch barrel. Still not sure on how good the power will be behind that short barrel, but considering the OICW is suppose to take the role of Grenadier (SP), and not the Rifleman, I don't see that it matters too much.

[Snakestyle]

I can somewhat understand why the OICW costs $10,000. What I'm wondering is whether or not HK's assertation that a fully loaded M4 costs over 30K holds water.

I don't think that a Land Warrior system costs that much does it?

[Knave]

All the computerization makes me a little leery. Can you imagine having to reboot while being under heavy fire? ;)

[Piccolo]

lol, yeah. I have a feeling these things won't be running on windows though :P

Just hope it isn't too complicated, no US Servicemen should lose their life over this thing not working. KISS.

[Knave]

lol, yeah. I have a feeling these things won't be running on windows though :P

Just hope it isn't too complicated, no US Servicemen should lose their life over this thing not working. KISS.

The LW system does run off a stripped-down version of Windows; no, I'm not joking. I've read articles of how Microsoft is developing the software for the soldier's wearable computer..... that's a scary thought. "Blue Screen of Death" could have a literal meaning ;)

And you're right... KISS. Especially in war. I wouldn't hazard a guess on how difficult a OICW is to clean or strip in the field; though, it doesn't look good with all of those 'miniturized' components and electronics, or how easily it jams when you get dirt, muck in the action or how it fares after you drop it.

I've seen video of the AK103s being tossed from a two-story building onto a paved street with a loud audible "whack" and "rattle", but then being picked up and fired at a target. Another video showed the gun dropped off a truck in some dirt and then being run over twice, then picked up and fired again.... no problem.

[JTFazz]

Same reason that M1A2 Abrams cost more than the M60 Patton.

[papabear]

I can't imagine the bayonet being used effectively on that.